Percussion fuse



la.A R, CAREY E1' 1n.-

ERCUSSION FUSE Ong-21,1924. Rei 15,933

original' med Aug. 19, 191s V INVENTORS` fjr Carey, 1 l

ga/tema,

ATTORNEY Reiasued Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES Re.15,933 PATENT OFFICE.

BQBEETEAYHOND CAREY, WILLIAM L. LUKENS, AND IiEIC-HIIIIONl N. D. MIXSELL, F B ETHLEEEI, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, 0F BETHIEHEK, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

PERCUSSION FUSE.

. ginaI le. 1,897,855, dated November 22, 1921, Serial No. 250,566, led August 19, 1918. Application Y Vfor reissue led November 21, 1923. Serial No. 676,161.

^^1 the primer il 'Si To-aZl lwhom t may concern.:

-.Be it known that` we, ROBERT CAREY, WiLLrAM L. LUxnNs, and LmGrrroN N. D. MIxsELL, citizens of the United States, residents, respectively, of Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Penns lmia, of Bethlehem, Vin the county of gorthampton and State of Pennsylvania, of Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new anduseful Invention in Percussion Fuses, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to improvements in `*fuses for ex losivey projectiles, and more .guticularly t at 'type of fuse in which the ri pin is normally revented from striking the primer by locking means which f can only be withdrawn by centrifugal action. In the presentinstance the firing pm point is surrounded by a guard which prevente it from approachin near enough to to contact wii the latter, the guardbeing retained in this -position by the.centrifugally operated locking means.

The invention will be particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawgure 1 is a longitudinal view through `a base fuse showing the parts in normal or inactive position;

Fi ure `2 is asimilar view showing the relation of the parts after the 4projectile has been fired and at the moment of impact; j Figure 8 is a section on the line A-A of Figurel; and Figure *t is a section on the line B-B of 1 'i re5 is a'sectional view of a slightly modi ed form.

lReferring to the drawing, 10 indicates the bcdy'of the fuse which 1s adapted to iit A' '-5 in @central threaded openin in the base of theuprojectile. Thefuse y has a central lindrical cavity 11 in its forward end and threaded into the forward end of this cavity is #container 12'which holds a charge 13 of explosive composition for igniting the main Afcharge of the projectile. In the rear o' r"the container 12 is a primer seat 14-'wh'ch is clamped against a shoulder 15 container, vvhilesiiitably located, centrally, iaith? primer" is a primer Y16,

RAYMOND' which is separated from the ex losive composition by a thin disk of suita le material.

The construction described provides a cylindrical cavity 11 for the firing pin and its associated parts; These parts comprise a cylindrical hammer or plunger body 2O on wlhich is fixed an axially arranged firing pin 21, the point of which extends forward of the body. Surrounding the firing pinat its forward end is a cylindrical guard 22 which is normally located in its forward position with its front end surface iush with or forwardv of the firing pin point andheld in this position by centrifugal bolts 23 which are normally pressed into contact with the firing pin by springs 24. When these bolts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 they prevent rearward movement of the guard 22. The bolts 23 operate in radial openings in the hammer or plunger body and the guard 22 is free to move rearwardly in an axial opening in the hammer or plunger 'body when the bolts are withdrawn. The guard is provided with an annular flange 25 which limits forward and rearward movement, the flange cooperating with an intermediate shoulder 25 on the plunger or hammer body and with a flan e 26 on the sheath 26 to be (described. thin metal sheath 26 surrounds the hammer or plunger and forms an abutment for the springs 24. The sheath has a circular opening through which the forward end of the guard norrojects and the margin of which is the inner margin of the flange 26 -engaging the iiange 25. The sheath is placed over the hammer or plunger body after the parts are assembled and retained in position by any suitable means, such vas by spinning its rear edge over the margin'of the base of the hammer or plunger, as shown.

The hammer or plunger is normally held at the rear of the cavity 11 by a sprin 27 If it should accidentally move forwar before the projectile is fired' the guard' will come in contact with the primer seat and preventl contact of the Vfiring pin with the primer. When the projectile is fired the locking bolts 23 move radially outward and assume the osition shown in Fig. 2 during the flight of) the projectile. When the projectile is suddenly retarded, as by a striking anobject, the hammer or plunger moves Y means for holdi forward to the position shown in Figure 2. The guard bemg free to move rearward, it permits the ring pin point to strike and fire the primer, which ruptures the diaphragm 17 and ignites the explosive composition 13 which, in turn, ignites the bursting charge of the projectile.

The construction described constitutes a very' simple, compact and safe fuse which is certain in operation when fired. The primer seat 14v is preferabl provided with a hea. boss 15a surroun ing the primer and su ciently strong lto prevent injury to the primer by any accidental forward movement of the hammer or plunger before firlng.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the guard 22 has an annular recess in which is located a spring 29 which has the function of the spring 27, Fig. 1. To hold the hammer or plunger body'normally at the'rear of the cavity, the guard 22L is preferably elongated sothat, in its normal position, it is nearly or quite in contact with the primer seat. As soon as the bolts 23 have been withdrawn from the rear of the guard, the guard is free to move rearward rela-tively to the hammer or plunger body, permitting the firing pin to strike the primer. In other respects the construction shown in Fig. 5 is like that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

It will be noted that in all ofthe modifications of our invention described the tubular guard member 22 in' Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and 22 in Fig. 5, is of a length less than that of the pin 21 extending within the cavity of the hammer or plunger member, whereby, when the centrifugal members 23 move out radially, the ard member may be moved rearwardly Wlth respect to the pin so that the latter may project forwardly of the guard member to cooperate with the primer in the manner described.

Having thus described our invention what we yclaim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In affuse for rojectiles, the combination of a plunger god having `a cavit a pin connected to the pliinger and exten ing through the cavity, a guard for the pin, and means within the cavity and cooperating with the inner end of theguard for normally holding the latter extended beyond the end of the pin and responsive to centrifugal force to permit relative movement between the pin and the guard.

2. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a plunger body, a pin connected to the plun er body, a tubular guard member surroun ing the pin, means carried by the plunger body for limiting outward movee ment of the tubular guard member, and

the guard member extended beyond the end of the pin .and re, sponsive to centrifugal force to permit relavbular guard and e outwardly, and means for holding the tutive movement between the pin and the guard member.

3. In a. fuse for projectiles, the combination of a plunger body, a pin connected to the plunger body, a tubular guard surrounding the pin, means carried by the plunger body for limiting outward movement of the tubular guard, resilient means interposed between the lunger body and the tuective to urgethe latter bular guard member extended beyond the end of the pin and responsive .to centrifugal force to permit relative movement between the pin and the guard.

4. In a fuse for projectiles, the combina.-

tion of a plunger body having a cavity and inwardly-projecting stop means, a firing in secured `to the plunger body, extendr 4 through thecavity, an beyond the open e of the plunger body, a guard for they pin* and fitting in the cavity and normally extending beyond the pin, centrifugally releasable lmeans for holding the guard extended and responsive to centrifugal force to permit relative movement between the guard and the pin, and stop means carried by the guard yand adapted to cooperate with the first stop means for limitlng outward 'or extension movement of the i ard.

5. In a fuse for projecti es, the combination of a plunger body having a cavi-ty, a pin extending .through the cavity, a guard member for the pin, automatically operable centrifugally releasable means for normall holding the guard member extended outwardly beyond .the end of the pin, and a sheath surrounding the plunger body and having means thereon for limiting outward movement of the guard member.

6. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination of a plunger body having a cavity therein provided with an intermediate abutment, a pin carried by the plunger body and extending throu h the cavity and beyond one end of the unger body, aguard member of less length than the pin, automatically operable centrifugally releasable means for normally holding the guard member extended beyond the outer end of the pin, and a sheath surrounding the plunger body and having a flange which extends inwardly be? youd the wall of one end of the cavity, said guard member khaving abutment means thereon for cooperation with the first-named abutment means and with the sheath Bange for limiting movement in either direction of said guard member.

7. In a fuse for projectiles, the combinaf tion of a plunger body having a cavit therein provided with an intermediate sh der, a pin carried by the plunger body and extending through the cavity andbeyond one end of 'theplunger body, a guard for the pin and of less length than the latter,

' tended beyond the outer end of t automatically operable centrifugally releasable AIneens for maintaining the ard expin, a sheathsnrrounding the plunger body and having a flangel which extends over the vit wall, a flange on the guard member a ted to cooperate with said shoulder and witlithie'sheath Bange 'to limitzmovement of membemand resilientmeans for i `withtheshoulderandtle guard member for maintaining the guard extended beyond the outer end of the in.

8. In a fuse for pro'ecti es, a hammer oomprisin i a cylindri body, a centrally arranged 'ng pin fixed to the body and an annular guard surrounding the forward end of the firing pin and movable in a cavi-ty in the hammer body to protect or expo the point of the pin, in combination with a bolt operatin in a radial opening in the hammer body an normall arranged in the rear of the ard to ho d it in protecting s1- tion, a xed closure movable with said od for the outer end of said opening, said bo t being movable under the influence of centrifugal force to free the guard and permit it to expose the point of the pin.

9. In a fuse a firing device comprising a A cylindrical hammer body having an axially arranged firing in, and having an axial opening sunroun ing the firing pin, an annular guard in said opening and surrounding the fiiig ranged in ial cavities 1n rear o the guard cavit and a casing surroundin to the hammer body and c osing the outer ends of the bolt cavities, the forward end of the casin l being turned inwardly across the gua cavity and adapted to limit the forward movement of the ard.

10. In a fuse structure the combination with a fuse body having a cylindrical 'cavity therein, of a primer seat carrying a centrally arranged primer closing the forward end of the cavity, a movable member in said cavit having an outer cylindrical surface loose y fitting the inner surface of said cavity comprising, 'a hammer body constituting part of said movable member carrying a centrally arranged firing pin and provided with a bore or openingA in its fori 'ward end surrounding said pin, a movable guard with a central bearing surface loosely surrounding said pin and fittin partly within said bore and longitudine y movable within' xed limits, cooperating means on said guard and member within said bore limiting the forward movement ofsaidguard to a. position around and protecting the oint of sald pin and centrifugally releasable ockmgmeans within said movable member forr 'normally holding said guard in its forward Protecting position.

11. As an article of manufacture a firing pin, radially actin bolts arh and sev device adapted forv use in the cylindrical cavt "of a fuse body having an outer cylindrica surface adapted.V to loosely fit in said cavity and to move `longitudinall therein, comprising a cylindrical hammer ody having a central opening or bore in one end, aV firing pin secured to said body centrally of said bore and projecting at its forward end beyond. the forward end of said' body, a guard surrounding said pin and freely movable thereon between fixed limits within said bore, and 'adapted to project therefrom around the point of the pin and automatic centrifugally releasable means around said pin at the inner end of said guard inclosed within said member to hold said guard in its forward osition.

12. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a hammer body having an outer surface cylindrical in form and provided with a centrally arranged cavity extending longitudinally from the forward end toward the rear end and with radial openings at the rear end of said cavit a. firing pin extending centrally from the bottom of said cavit to a point beyond the forward end of said hammerbody, a guard surrounding and freely movable on vsaid in longitudinally in said cavity with its flirward end normally at least as far forward as the ti end of said pin, cooperating peripheral a utments on said guard and on said ammer member within'said cavity to limit the forward movement of said guard, spring pressed bolts in said radial openings bearing against said pin behind the inner end of said guard and normally holding it in its foremost position.

13. An article of manufacture of the class described comprising a hammer body having van outer surface cylindrical in form and provided with a centrally arranged cavity extending longitudinally from the forward end toward the rear end and with radial openings at the rear end of said cavity, a firing in extending centrally from the bottom o said cavit to a point beyond the forward end of said hammer body, a guard surroundin and freely movable on said in longitudina ly in said cavity ywith its orward end normally at least as far forward as the tip end of said pin, spring pressed bolts in said radial openings bearing against said pin behind the inner end of said guard and normally holding it in its forward position, a thin sheet metal cylindrical casing secured on the outer surface of said hammer body closing the outer ends of said radial openin s and having its forward end bent inward y and partl across the cavity therein forming an a utment flange and a eripheral flange on said guard behind said) inturned end to cooperate therewith and limit the forward movement of said guard.

over the end of said hammer body Ilm 14. A self containd hammer body for wholly ixiclnd in said body for normally fum comprising a smooth mitm' continuons holding nid guard in its forward procting and imperforate cylindrical surface, a, een,

tnl pin in a ntral navty-in un md of said In testimony whereof we herounto di:

n bod and projecting thmrom, a guand in our signatures this 20th day of-Novnmber, l5

snidy cavity normally with its fomrd and 1928. Y projecting from said hammer vbody surf rounding and promoting hhs point o! slid ROBERT BAYMDND CAREY.

y pin but frely movable on said pin to the WILLIAM L. LUKEHS.

10 mr and contriiugally relexsabk moans LEIGHTON N. D. MIXSELL. 

